Will the Dallas Mavericks regret not signing Summer League standout A. J. Lawson?

Will the Dallas Mavericks regret not signing Summer League standout A.J. Lawson?

Lawson is a young 6’6 wing with a versatile skill set. The Mavs reached the conference finals last season by putting 3-and-D wings around Luka Doncic and a secondary ball-handler. Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, and Maxi Kleber were all part of the Mavs best postseason lineup, and each could be described as a 3-and-D option.

Lawson is not ready NBA role, but Doe-Doe was still in college as a 22-year-old. Bullock played 9.2 minutes per over 43 games as a rookie for the LA Clippers at that age, and Maxi Kleber was four years away from coming to the NBA. Kleber was playing professionally in Germany, but his game was far from a finished product.

A.J. Lawson outplayed Moses Wright, who was on a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks last season, in the Las Vegas Summer League. Wright averaged 15.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steal in 19.0 minutes per game during the event, but those numbers were inflated by a 26-point performance against the Bucks where the 6’8 forward looked dominant.

The Mavs signed Tyler Dorsey to fill their other two-way contract after the 26-year-old has played well overseas in recent years. Brining the 6’5 wing back to the United States prevented Dallas from signing Lawson.

The Mavericks will regret not signing A.J. Lawson because he is a developing 3-and-D wing that fits well in their system. He proved he can thrive playing for Dallas in Las Vegas, but the 6’6 wing found a better opportunity elsewhere. Mavs fans should not panic, though. Dallas could easily get another chance at signing Lawson.